Closure support for foundation vents and like openings

ABSTRACT

A base grill member smaller in dimensions than an opening to be closed mounts a plurality of gripping members at least one of which normally extends resiliently outward of the grill member for retractable engagement with the peripheral wall of the opening. Each resilient gripping member is retractable inwardly from said extended position to permit installation of the grill member in the opening, whereupon each resilient gripping member is allowed to extend outward into gripping engagement with the peripheral wall of the opening. The grill member may mount a closure member for closing the opening or it may cooperate with a screen across the opening to confine a closure material between them.

United States Patent Akre Feb. 29, 1972 54] CLOSURE SUPPORT FOR 2,895,565 7/1959 Brun et al. ..55/5o9 x FOUNDATION vEN s AND LIKE 3,340,661 9/1967 Kreiger ..49/57 x OPENINGS Inventor: Marvin L. Akre, 410 NE. 20th Drive,

Gresham, Oreg. 97030 Filed: May 22, 1970 Appl. No.: 39,929

Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attarney0liver D. Olson [5 7] ABSTRACT A base grill member smaller in dimensions than an opening to be closed mounts a plurality of gripping members at least one of which normally extends resiliently outward of the grill member for retractable engagement with the peripheral wall of the opening. Each resilient gripping member is retractable inwardly from said extended position to permit installation of the grill member in the opening, whereupon each resilient gripping member is allowed to extend outward into gripping engagement with the peripheral wall of the opening. The grill member may mount a closure member for closing the opening or it may cooperate with a screen across the opening to confine a closure material between them.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 29, 1972 MARVIN L. AKRE lNVENTOR.

BY AGENT CLOSURE SUPPORT FOR FOUNDATION VENTS AND LIKE OPENINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to closures for openings, and more particularly to a removable support for a closure for foundation vents and like openings.

Residential structures having a crawl space between the ground and the adjacent floor are required to provide vent openings in the foundation wall for the circulation of air through said space. However, in cold weather it is desirable to close such openings to prevent freezing of water pipes located under the structure and to minimize cooling of the floor.

It is a common practice among home owners to close such openings by cutting plywood, cardboard or other sheet material to dimensions slightly larger than the opening and to press the contoured sheet material into the opening to close the latter. Since the several openings around the foundation perimeter generally are of random dimensions and irregular surface contour, each closure sheet must be sized to a particular opening. Moreover, it has been observed that for unknown reasons such closures frequently are unexpectedly dislodged from the openings, requiring periodical reinstallation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its basic concept the closure support of this invention includes a closure-supporting base member adapted for insertion freely in an opening to be closed and mounting resilient gripping means for engaging the peripheral wall of the opening tosecure the base member removably therein.

It is by virtue of the foregoing basic concept that the principal objective of this invention is achieved; namely, to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages associated with prior methods and means for closing such openings.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a closure support of the class described which is of simplified construction for economical manufacture, which is readily altered in size whereby to accommodate use in openings of various sizes, which is versatile in its utility, and is capable of installation and removal with speed and facility.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a foundation vent having installed therein a closure support embodying the features of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2- 2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation as viewed in the direction of arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4- 4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the closure support in an alternative mode of use.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in front elevation similar to FIG. 1 but showing a closure support of this invention in a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in front elevation similar to FIG. 1 but showing a closure support of this invention in a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawing the closure support of this invention is illustrated in association with a vent opening in a concrete foundation wall 10 of a residential structure. The vent opening is defined by a peripheral wall which includes sidewalls l2 and 14 and bottom wall 16 formed in the foundation wall, and the top wall 18 formed by the horizontal stringer 20, usually a 2X4 or 2X6 of wood which forms the base of the upstanding sidewall of the structure.

The concrete surfaces defining the sidewalls and bottom wall of the vent opening generally are not finished to a smooth surface, but rather are left in a rather rough and irregular condition. The bottom wall generally slopes downward to the outer side of the wall for drainage of rain water, as will be understood.

Most building codes require the foundation vents to be closed by perforate barriers to insure against the entrance of rodents, etc., to the crawl space. Such a barrier generally is provided by a sheet of screen material 22 which is embedded in the concrete foundation wall.

In accordance with the present invention, a closure support for closing such openings includes a base member proportioned tofrt freely within the opening to be closed and mounting a plurality of gripping members for releasably engaging the peripheral wall of the opening for securing the base member therein. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 the base member is provided in the form of a grill comprising a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal rods 24 interconnected by a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical rods 26. The rods are secured together by welding, or other suitable means.

It will be understood that the grill may be provided in the form of an expanded metal structure, synthetic plastic, wood, or other suitable material of appropriate strength. The base member also may be a solid, imperforate plate of metal, wood, plastic, or other material.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-5 the gripping members are provided by a pair of elongated resilient rods which are arranged in crosswise relation across the grill and are secured at their point of crossing to the geometric center of the grill, as by welding 28. The lengths of rods extending angularly outward from said point of attachment to the'grill thus form two cooperating pairs of gripping members 30, 32 and 34, 36. In this regard it will be apparent that four separate rods may be secured at their inner ends, as by the welding 28 illustrated, to produce the same operating assembly. Still further, the two rods may be arranged so that one forms the gripping members 30 and 34 or 30 and 32 and the other forms the gripping members 32 and 36 or 34 and 36, respectively. Other comparable arrangements also may be made, as will be apparent.

The outer portions of the rods are bent angularly outward and sharpened at their extremities for gripping engagement with the peripheral wall of the openings. In the normal, relaxed condition of the rods, illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 1, the sharpened ends of the rods of each cooperating pair extend laterally outward of the grill "a distance greater than the corresponding dimension of the vent opening. However, the rods are retractable resiliently inward so that the sharpened tips of cooperating pairs are spaced apart a distance less than the corresponding dimension of the opening, to permit installation of the assembly within the opening. Upon release of the retracting forces on the rods, the latterare urged resiliently outward until the sharpened'ends engage the peripheral wall of the opening.

To facilitate retraction of the rods, an intermediate portion ofeach is offset angularly outward, as illustrated in FIG. 3. These-angular projections provide tabs 38 for engagement by fingers'of the hands. v

It is to be noted in FIG. I that the arrangement of cooperating pairs of resilient gripping members functions to center the grill vertically within the vent opening.

The closure support described hereinbefore functions to support a'closure within the ventopening. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 40f the drawing the closure 40 is in the form of a sheet of conventional insulating material such as the closure material and encircle the outer horizontal rods of the grill. In this manner the closure is supported directly by the support structure.

In FIG. 5 the closure support functions in cooperation with the barrier screen 22 to support loose closure material 44 between them. The closure material may be crumpled paper, or other suitable material, which is filled into the opening against the screen. Thereafter the closure support is inserted into the opening and pressed against the closure material, as illustrated.

In the event the base grill of FIG. 1 is longer than the corresponding dimension of an opening to be closed, it may be shortened simply by cutting the horizontal rods 24 at appropriate end positions to shorten the grill to desired length.

Referring now to FIG. 6 of the drawing, there is illustrated a modified form of gripping means by which the base member is secured within an opening to be closed. Thus, a laterally spaced pair of the vertical rods 26 of the grill are provided with downward extensions 26' sharpened at their terminal ends for engaging the bottom wall defining the opening. A single elongated resilient rod 46 is secured at its inner end to the base member, and a portion of its outer end is bent angularly outward, in the manner previously explained. In this instance, however, the outer end portion projects outward of the base member intermediate the spaced extensions 26' and in the opposite direction. This arrangement provides a three point engagement with the peripheral wall of the opening, as will be apparent.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawing, the base grill member comprises an elongated hollow pipe 50 to which is secured a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical support rods 52. Although such rods may be secured to the pipe permanently, as by welding, the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 8 is preferred. Thus, each rod is provided intermediate its ends with an arcuate section 52' which constitutes slightly more than 180 and has a radius slightly smaller than the radius of the outer surface of the pipe. In this manner each of the rods may be secured removably to the pipe frictionally by snapping it over the latter.

Resilient gripping means for the base member is provided by a pair of rods 54 one fitted slidably in each end of the pipe. The outer end of each rod is sharpened for engagement with the sidewall of the opening. An outwardly projecting annular collar 56 on each rod adjacent the sharpened end forms an abutment for one end of a coil spring 58 which encircles the rod and abuts at the opposite end against the terminal end of the pipe. The spring thus functions to urge the rod resiliently outwardly for engagement of the sharpened end with the peripheral wall of the opening. The sharpened end may be retracted simply by gripping the collar between the fingers and moving the rod inward against the force of the spring.

The closure support of FIG. 7 functions in manner quite similar to the closure supports previously described. Although the axially aligned gripping members provide an axis of rotation for the support, the latter is stabilized in proper position and prevented from rotation by the closure member (FIG. 4) or closure material (FIG. 5) which it supports.

In the event the base member, comprising the pipe 50 and rods 52 is larger in dimension than the opening to be closed, it is necessary merely to cut off a portion of the length of the pipe and/or to cut off terminal portions of the rods.

It will be understood that only one of the resiliently extendable rods 54 need be employed. In such event the end of the pipe 50 opposite the rod 54 may be sharpened, or fitted with a sharpened plug, to provide a gripping member.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a closure support which is of simplified construction for economical manufacture, which is readily altered in dimensions to accommodate openings in various sizes, which may support a closure either directly by attachment thereto or indirectly by cooperation with a barrier openings in in the opening, and which is installed and removed with speed and facilit Although the closure support has been described herein with reference to a foundation vent, it will be understood that it may be used for closing various other forms of openings.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the size, shape, number, type and arrangement of parts described hereinbefore may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which it may be used, I claim:

1. A closure support for foundation vents and like openings, comprising a. a base member dimensioned smaller than the corresponding dimensions of the opening to be closed for removable reception freely in said opening with the margins of the base member spaced from the peripheral wall of the opening, the base member being adapted to support a closure within said opening, and

b. elongated resilient gripping means mounted at the inner end thereof on the base member and extending angularly outward from said mounted end for movement substantially parallel to the base member between a nonnally extended position of the outer end of the gripping means outward of the base member for gripping engagement of said outer end with the peripheral wall of the opening and a resiliently retracted position of said outer end inward of Said extended position for disengagement from said peripheral wall for removing the closure support.

2. A closure support for foundation vents and like openings, comprising a. a base member dimensioned smaller than the corresponding dimensions of an opening to be closed for removable reception freely in said opening with the margins of the base member spaced from the peripheral wall of the opening, the base member being adapted to support a closure within said opening, and

b. at least one pair of elongated resilient rods secured at their inner ends to the base member and having outwardly offset outer end portions extending retractably outward of a side of the base member, the outer ends of said outer end portions being pointed for engaging the peripheral wall of the opening, the rods being movable resiliently between said extended wall-engaging position and a retracted position laterally inward of said extended position for disengagement from said peripheral wall for removing the closure support.

3. The closure support of claim 12 wherein there are two spaced pairs of resilient rods, each pair being arranged to extend retractably outward of opposite sides of the base member.

} UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 545, 044 a d February 29, 1972 Inventor(s) Marvin L. Akre It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 58, the claim reference numeral '12" should read --2-.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of July 1972.

SEAL) At to st:

EDWARD M .FLET CHER JR ROBERT GOT 'ISCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM powso USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 .5. GOVERNMENT PR NTING OFFICE: 969 0-366-33 

1. A closure support for foundation vents and like openings, comprising a. a base member dimensioned smaller than the corresponding dimensions of the opening to be closed for removable reception freely in said opening with the margins of the base member spaced from the peripheral wall of the opening, the base member being adapted to support a closure within said opening, and b. elongated resilient gripping means mounted at the inner end thereof on the base member and extending angularly outward from said mounted end for movement substantially parallel to the base member between a normally extended position of the outer end of the gripping means outward of the base member for gripping engagement of said outer end with the peripheral wall of the opening and a resiliently retracted position of said outer end inward of said extended position for disengagement from said peripheral wall for removing the closure support.
 2. A closure support for foundation vents and like openings, comprising a. a base member dimensioned smaller than the corresponding dimensions of an opening to be closed for removable reception freely in said opening with the margins of the base member spaced from the peripheral wall of the opening, the base member being adapted to support a closure within said opening, and b. at least one pair of elongated resilient rods secured at their inner ends to the base member and having outwardly offset outer end portions extending retractably outward of a side of the base member, the outer ends of said outer end portions being pointed for engaging the peripheral wall of the opening, the rods being movable resiliently between said extended wall-engaging position and a retracted position laterally inward of said extended position for disengagement from said peripheral wall for removing the closure support.
 3. The closure support of claim 12 wherein there are two spaced pairs of resilient rods, each pair being arranged to extend retractably outward of opposite sides of the base member. 